DENVER — Shortly after RTD temporarily limited its bus and light rail services in response to COVID-19, it’s now offering to deliver groceries to the homes of people with disabilities amidst the pandemic.
RTD announced the grocery delivery service for its Access-a-Ride customers on Monday. The customers can choose to get their groceries delivered either from King Soopers, Safeway, Community Ministry Southwest food bank, Senior Hub Senior Solutions, or Adams County food bank. There is no fare required for existing customers to use the service.
RTD is seeking additional grocery pickup options, which will be announced on RTD’s website.
The service was announced after Gov. Jared Polis issued Colorado’s stay-at-home order last Thursday.
Paul Hamilton, the senior manager of Paratransit Services, said it is more important now than ever to give people the option to stay home.
“We are well aware that during a state of emergency, one of the first things people can lose access to is food,” Hamilton said in a press release. “When the public is being told to reduce their exposure to others, the last thing we want to do is ask them to leave their homes if they don’t have to.”
The transportation service is following steps taken by volunteer networks that are seeking to help individuals and families who are at high-risk, such as the Denver Delivery Network, which offers to deliver essential items.
The delivery service won’t replace RTD’s promise to allow customers to book trips for essential purposes through Access-a-Ride — riders can still do this on their website.
Information for Access-a-Ride customers looking to use the service:
- Call or go online to set up an order and pick up time from a participating grocer or food bank.
- Once an order has been made and a scheduled pickup time has been established, call Access-a-Ride reservations at 303-292-6560 and book a trip to have the groceries picked up at that time.
- Calls to schedule grocery pickup trips must be made one day in advance.
- Reservations staff must have the address of the grocer or food bank, as well as the scheduled date and pickup time.
- Drivers cannot step inside homes. If a front door is not visible from the curb, provide a phone number so you can be notified when the driver has arrived.
- Don't order frozen food, as orders may be onboard a vehicle for over an hour.
- Please note the time provided when your grocery delivery is scheduled. Groceries cannot be left at an unattended address.
If you are a vendor interested in providing services in part with the grocery delivery program, call RTD at (303) 299-6000.
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